Silento Arrested for Allegedly Murdering His Cousin

Silento has been arrested for the alleged murder of his cousin.

The “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” rapper, born Richard “Ricky” Lamar Hawk, was taken into custody on Monday (Feb. 1) and charged with the murder of 34-year-old Frederick Rooks, according to Georgia’s DeKalb County Police Department.

Authorities responded to a call of a person shot inside a home on Jan. 21 around 3:30 a.m. Rooks sustained gunshot wounds to the face and leg and was bleeding severely. An officer said he “felt a possible faint pulse” when he arrived, but Rooks was pronounced dead at the scene, reports XXL.

Today, Ricky Hawk, 23, was arrested for the murder of his cousin Frederick Rooks, 34. On January 21, the DeKalb County Police Department investigated Rooks' death after he was found shot on Deep Shoals Circle. Hawk is in the DeKalb County Jail charged with Murder. #WeAreDKPD pic.twitter.com/AfaA8CtXgx

— DeKalb County Police Department (@DeKalbCountyPD) February 1, 2021

Eight bullet casings were reportedly found at the scene. Authorities have launched an investigation into Rooks’ death, but they still don’t have a clear motive behind the shooting.

Silento, 23, was booked into DeKalb County Jail for felony murder on Monday evening.

This is the latest run-in for Silento. Back in October, he was busted for driving 143 mph. Prior to that in August, he was arrested and charged with two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly entered a stranger’s house and threatened them with a hatchet.

Silento is best known for his 2015 hit single “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spawned a viral dance craze.